Editor's note: We have updated this article with new UKHSA data from May 30
The number of people infected with monkeypox in the UK continues to grow as the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced today it had detected 71 additional cases in England on Monday, bringing the total UK number of 179, with cases now across all countries in the UK.
Previously only identified in England, four cases have been confirmed in Scotland, one in Wales, and two in Northern Ireland. The majority of cases are still in England, with 172 confirmed cases, as of May 30. The 71 new cases is an exponential growth compared to the 16 new cases announced Friday, and the 8 new cases reported on May 26.
The UKHSA says that the risk to the UK population remains low, but they are asking people to be alert to any new rashes or lesions, which would appear as spots, ulcers, or blisters, on any part of their body.
Transmitted Via Bodily Fluids and Sores
This could apply to anyone, but since May 14, most of the cases identified so far have spread via human-to-human contact among men who are homosexual, bisexual, and men who have sex with men (MSM). Monkeypox is not a sexually transmitted disease, as these are generally transmitted via semen or vaginal fluid. The virus spreads through contact with bodily fluids and sores, according to the CDC and World Health Organisation (WHO). This is the first time that the disease has spread amongst the MSM community.
"We are continuing to promptly identify further monkeypox cases in England through our extensive surveillance and contact tracing networks, our vigilant NHS services, and thanks to people coming forward with symptoms," said UKHSA Chief Medical Adviser, Dr Susan Hopkins.
Those who detect a rash, should contact a sexual health clinic immediately or call NHS 111, and should limit their contact with others.
Cases of monkeypox in the UK as of May 14 are unique in that they are not related to travel to endemic areas. It appears, according to WHO, that the latest cases were locally acquired in the UK, although where and how they acquired their infection remains under investigation, according to the UKHSA.
According to testing done on the two cases from May 14, it appears that the West African clade of monkeypox was identified, which is the milder version of the disease. The case fatality ratio for the West African clade has been documented to be around 1%, according to WHO.
Multi-Country Outbreak
Worldwide, 257 laboratory confirmed cases and around 120 suspected cases have been reported to WHO from 23 countries, as of May 26. Again, most the new cases reported are amongst MSM. There have been no deaths reported.
Clinical presentation is usually mild, with most cases presenting with lesions on the genitalia or peri-genital area, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
Lead Image Credit: Science Photo Library /Getty Images
